The Builders & Contractors Exchange was founded in 1908 by a group of far-sighted members of the construction industry to "bring the various branches of the construction industry closer in touch with each other." Since 1908 the Builders & Contractors Exchange has served as the nerve center of one of Hampton Roads' largest businesses--the construction industry. The Exchange is a member-owned, not-for-profit clearinghouse for competitive bids for construction projects planned for the Hampton Roads area plus selected other areas in Virginia and North Carolina. The Exchange gathers, manages, and distributes information essential to those in the commercial arm of the construction industry. Information is gathered from plan issuing offices of owners, architects, engineers, and government entities.